Annual General Meeting of the Airdrie Festival of Lights Society and Foundation taking place Wednesday May 15th, 2013. Interested parties should visit our News Page for More Information.
One of Canada’s Top 10 holiday light shows, as chosen by the travel experts at where.ca
Located in Airdrie’s Nose Creek Park, the Airdrie Festival of Lights is a beautiful, outdoor walk-through lights experience, with about a million dollars worth of displays and other special features. Just to give you an idea, we have miniature trains which carry the whole family around our pre-set paths, as well as open bonfires where you can savour that cup of hot chocolate, and treats that are available in the park from several different food vendors.
Check out our Calendar of Events Tab for everything Festival and… Don’t forget your camera!
Now glowing for its 17th year, the Festival is a non-profit society, supported by your donations, revenue from train tickets, and our corporate and community sponsors.
We pride ourselves on being Family and Budget Friendly so we don’t charge for admission or even parking! However, we do encourage you to make a cash donation at one of our three brightly colored Toy Soldier Guard Houses as it helps us to Keep Glowing. As well train rides are only $2 and children 2 and under ride free with the purchase of an adult ticket.
You can also support the Airdrie Festival of Lights Society (and the Rainbow Society) by purchasing raffle tickets for $10 each to win a Mattamy Homes Custom Built Playhouse (click HERE for more details).
Dates & Hours
The Airdrie Festival of Lights runs every night in December starting on December 1 all the way through to December 31 from 6pm – 9pm.
We are able to run every night thanks to our many volunteers, but there are many spots still to be filled. In particular we are in need of volunteers for Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve. To find out what’s available, pop into the Volunteer Trailer at the park any evening (This will give you a good idea of how we do things) or send a message to our Coordinator, Michelle Pirzek at coordinator.afols@gmail.com. Remember, we Can’t GlowWithout You!
Map
Click on this link for a Google Map - http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=nose+creek+park+map&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bpcl=38897761&biw=1140&bih=543&wrapid=tlif135369753961910&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl
Directions
To reach the Airdrie Festival of Lights:
From Calgary and other locations south of Airdrie, take Deerfoot Trail and Highway 2 to the third Airdrie exit (Veteran’s Blvd); stay left on the exit and travel west about 1 kilometre, while moving to the inside (left) lane. Turn left at the traffic signals at Main Street, then travel 2.7 km south, and turn right into Nose Creek Park.
(You can also access the Festival from the first northbound Airdrie exit, which is a less scenic route. From the first exit ramp, turn left, and travel west on (Yankee Valley Blvd) about 1 kilometre, to the traffic lights at Main Street. Turn right onto Main Street, and travel north about 1 kilometer, then turn left into Nose Creek Park.)
From Red Deer and locations north of Airdrie, take the first southbound exit into Airdrie, turn right off the ramp and travel west on Veterans’ Blvd. about 1 kilometer, while moving into the inside lane. Turn left at the Main Street traffic lights and then travel south 2.7 km, and turn right into Nose Creek Park.
If you use a GPS, enter Nose Creek Park, or Nose Creek Valley Museum at 1701 Main Street (the park is located directly behind the museum).
Handicap access
A number of parking spots immediately adjacent to the Festival displays are reserved for vehicles with Handicap permits.
In addition, golf cart transportation, for those unable to walk through the Festival, is usually available, although it cannot be guaranteed or reserved. Availability depends on the number of visitors requesting their use and the number of volunteers available to drive.
Pets
Dogs on leashes are always welcome at the Airdrie Festival of Lights. However, please be advised that pets are not allowed in the tent, where food may be served. We also recommend that pets be left at home if you plan to attend the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Skating
The Nose Creek Pond, within the Festival of Lights displays, is a popular skating destination every winter.
However, the Pond is not part of the Festival, and we are unable to provide information about the thickness of the ice or whether or not it is safe for skating.
Please direct your skating inquiries to the City of Airdrie, 403-948-8800.
Every Evening
Miniature train rides: for everyone in the family, just $2 per person. Children 2 and under ride free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Be sure to bring your camera for this highlight of the Festival! You can thank our sponsors United Safety and Mattamy Homes for the low price for tickets.
Hot Chocolate is available every night of the Festival for only $2/cup! It’s just the thing to sip while standing beside an open bonfire enjoying the lights of the Festival!
Bonfires: Speaking of bonfires, we have two of them, thanks to our sponsors Excel Homes and Ramada Inn and Suites Airdrie.
Will the guy who does the drawings be there again this year?
Hi
Thanks for asking.
Unfortunately, caricaturist Kelly Gannon is not back this year. The sponsorship arrangement that allowed him to provide free drawings to Festival visitors expired and was not renewed.
We really enjoyed working with Kelly, and miss his ever-pleasant personality. Here’s hoping we find a way to bring him back in future years!
Bob Abbott
Airdrie Festival of Lights Society
Will there be a Santa Claus at the festival?
We’re glad to see you want to meet Santa too!
He will make eight appearances this year, on December 1 (passed), 7, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23.
We don’t exactly when he’ll arrive or leave, but if you’re around the Festival between 7 pm and 8 pm on any of those evenings there’s a very good chance you’ll see him. Ho, Ho, Ho!
Hi, just wondering if there is a cost for admission?
Hi Jill
Admission and parking are free, but we do ask you to make a donation if you can.
Train rides and hot chocolate are $2 each; various food and beverage vendors do offer other refreshments at prices they set.
Is this a stroller friendly area?
Hi Samantha
The Festival is generally stroller friendly, since all pathways are paved. But if the temperature is above zero, and there’s snow or packed snow softens, it may be a little more difficult pushing your stroller.
Is there plenty of parking on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday
Parking can be an issue on Friday and Saturday nights, and sometimes on Sunday evenings. We would recommend visiting Monday through Thursday, or if you visit on one of the nights above, come early. If you arrive just before 6 p.m., you won’t have much trouble; on the other hand, arriving after 6:30 or 7:00 can see you waiting quite a while to get parked. Of course, the cooler the night, the fewer the visitors, so that can make a difference, too.
Hi, love visiting every year!! Thank you!
We were thinking of coming New Year’s Eve and wondered if there would be fireworks??
Thanks for your kind words!
Yes! The fireworks are back, thanks to the City of Airdrie and Propak. The City has done the organizing and, most importantly, will provide security (security had been increasingly difficult for the Festival Society). Propak is the sponsor.
Time: 8:30, but be sure to come early if you want a parking space. And while you’re waiting, enjoy the many activities at our new Family Friendly New Year’s Eve party.
Hi , around what time are the firworks on 31 st December ?
Thanks
Shelly
The fireworks will start about 8:30 p.m.
If you plan to drive and park, please come early. On fireworks’ nights, the lot and many nearby areas fill up quickly as well.
Hi, Can you walk on the path through the lights or do you have to take the train?
Thanks for your question, which will be helpful to other visitors!
You can walk everywhere throughout the Festival. The trains are simply another option, as much for entertainment as for siteseeing.
Enjoy your visit, and happy holidays!
What time will Santa visit normally starts? Is there any fee to see Santa?
Thanks!
Hi
Santa will be coming to the Festival on December 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23. He normally visits between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Thanks to our sponsors, there is no cost or fee at all. Ho Ho Ho
Hi;
I am new in Calgary and Canada. Do you think it is worth a trip of us staying in South of Calgary to drive to Airdrie?
Is the weather bearable for a newcomer to Canada?
Are there a lot of activities for the kids (below 12?)
Thank you
Welcome to Canada! We’re very glad you could join us!
The drive to the Airdrie will likely take between 20 and 30 minutes from Glenmore Trail and Deerfoot Trail. Once on Deerfoot, stay on it until you reach the 3rd exit into Airdrie, onto Veterans’ Boulevard. Drive west about 1 kilometer to Main Street and then drive south. In just a few minutes, you’ll see an absolutely wonderful display of coloured display in the night. Drive south on Main Street until you see the entrance to Nose Creek Park, lit by green arches. Turn right into the park and follow signs to the free parking area.
Once at the park, you’ll also find admission is free. Walk around for a few minutes, then jump on one of our miniature trains for a ride; tickets are just $2 for children 2 and older, and for adults. After that, get yourself a cup of hot chocolate or anything hot from one of the vendors (just $2 per cup for hot chocolate) and then stand beside the open fire or warm up inside our heated tent.
But, to be clear, there is no admission and you can stay as long as you like, so you can make a night of it without spending a dime. If you can afford it, though, we would appreciate a donation at one of the toy soldier guardhouses; donations help us keep everything going while making admission free for everyone.
And, I’m absolutely positive you will agree, while driving back home, that it was completely worth the trip. Visitors routinely tell us the Festival was much more than they expected.
We look forward to seeing you!
Where can I get more information on the family friendly New Year’s Eve party?
Thanks!
Thanks to Encana Corporation, we’re putting on a free party that focuses on kids and their families, with a dance party, carnival games, treats, and more. And of course there are also fireworks about 8:30 pm. But, do come early to ensure you get a parking spot; every available space is usually gone well before the fireworks start.
If we have any more information about New Year’s Eve, we will post it on the Events | Calendar page of our website.
hi
thank you so much for putting the time and effort into this festival of lights and the fireworks i really enjoy it
thanks
I will like to go to see the lights this nights Friday 4 th 2013. It is possible. Thank.
Sorry, the Festival of Lights ended on December 31st and the displays have now been taken down.
We’re open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every evening from December 1st through December 31st.
Hope to see you next year!